Device for changing tubular lights



Dec. 18, 1962 F. BUCK DEVICE FOR CHANGING TUBULAR LIGHTS Filed May 18,1959 INVENTOR, FRA NK BUCK;

1 2i? ATTORNEY Unite if Bfififilfi Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3 059,195DEVICE FOR CHANGING TUBULAR LIGHTS Frank Buck, 480 Nesmuth Road,Glendale, Calif. Filed May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,782 1 Claim. (Cl.294-21) The present invention relates to a device for the removing ofand installing of tubular lamps.

Fluorescent lamps have become very popular in office buildings, stores,factories and elsewhere, and usually such lamps are mounted in theceiling in suitable fixtures which oftentimes render access to saidlamps diificult due to the ceiling height and location.

The present invention relates to a device which is easily handled by aworkman, is efficient in grasping and holding of a tubular type lampwithout damage thereto, and which device may be manipulated so as torelease the lamp from its fixture or to replace the lamp in the fixture.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for use in the removalof and the reinsertion of tubular lamps in a fixture which may bemanipulated by one hand or if it becomes necessary to use two hands, asingle workman may efficiently handle the device without theaid of anassistant. I

In most installations of so-called fluorescent tubular lamps, a ladderis necessary in order to reach the fixture containing the lamp and as arule two workmen are used as different types of fixtures requiredifferent methods of installing the lamp. Most tubular lamps have prongson the ends thereof and these prongs must be inserted in a certain wayinto the fixture in order to complete an electrical circuit and tosecure the lamp in the fixture.

I have found that a tubular pole formed from a light metal such asaluminum, performs satisfactorily, although it is possible to use someof the plastics now on the market for its construction. Some fluorescenttubes now on the market and sold under different trade-names such asSlim-line, have different means of attachment with a fixture. As anexample, movable end plugs or pins. However, regardless of constructionand method of tube installation, my invention is efficient in operation.With the present invention the lamp may be easily replaced without fearof dropping the lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of simplestructure, of any length desired, inexpensive in cost of manufacture,easily assembled, eflicient in use and fool proof in operation. 7

The above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association andrelative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in oneembodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and moreparticularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 andon an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing.

The device of the invention includes a pair of half round tubular jaws 1and 2 joined together by a continuous hinge 3, an elongated tubular pole4 carrying at one end 5 the said jaws, the opposite end of the polebeing provided with a fixed handle 6 and a movable handle 7, togetherwith means to be described whereby actuation of the movable handle willactuate one of the jaws to open or close relative to the fixed jaw.

The half-round tubular jaws 1 and 2 are of elongated form so as toproperly embrace a lamp to be either inserted in a fixture or removedtherefrom, and the jaw 1 is arranged to be movable relative to the jaw2. The fixed jaw 2 is secured to the tubular pole 4 by welding orotherwise, as shown at 8, FIGURE 2, while actuating means within theconfines of the tubular pole moves the jaw 1.

To best accommodate the structure and the mechanism, the elongatedhollow pole 4 is circular in cross-section for the major portion of itslength. Adjacent the top thereof the pole is flattened so as to changeits form and provide two parallel side wall portions 9 and 10, FIGURE 3,with curved end wall portions joining the side walls as shown at 11 and12. The curved end walls, however, vary as to height, as best shown inFIGURE 2, the curved end wall 11 being shorter than the curved end wall12 with the curved end wall 12 secured to the fixed jaw 2. The parallelside walls 9 and 10 likewise vary as to height as shown in FIGURE 2 inorder not to interfere with movement of the movable jaw 1. In otherwords, the top edge 13 for one side wall lies below the maximum downwardmovement allowed for the movable jaw and said top edge likewise liesbelow the hinge 3 so as not to interfere with its action. The oppositeend of said tubular handle has substantially the same appearance as thetop portion thereof, save and exwpt that the said opposite end,designated as 14, is uniform as to depth of wall. A cross section of theend 14 would have substantially the same appearance as the cross sectionor" FIGURE 3; that is to say, the side walls would be parallel andjoined by curved end walls.

Adapted to have sleeve fit engagement at 15 with the portion 14 of thetubular handle is the fixed handle member 6 which has pivoted at 16 themovable handle 7. The movable handle has a curved outer wall 17 and twospaced apart side members 18 and 19 with the side members pivotedbetween two spaced cars 19 and 20 by means of a pin 21.

To actuate the movable jaw 7, I have provided a pair of parallel levers22 and 23 carried on pivot pin 24, which pivot pin extends through theside walls 9 and 10, the pin being headed, as shown in FIGURE 3. Pivotedbetween the said levers 22 and 23 by means of a pin 25, is the flattenedend of a link 26, which link at one end is provided with a ball 27confined within a socket member 28, which socket member is externallysecured to the movable jaw 1. The opposite ends of levers 22 and 23 havepinned therebetween the flattened end 29 of a link rod 30, which rod isscrew threaded at 31. This rod is passed through an enlarged diametricbore 32 in a cylindrical member 33 which has end studs, which studs aresecured in boxes of the movable handle 16. A spacer bushing 34 maysurround a portion of the threaded area 31 of the link red, the threads31 carrying a nut 35 for adjusting the length of the link rod betweenthe pivot point thereof with levers 22 and 23 and the cylindrical member32.

The link rod carries a button 36 which is adjustably slidable thereon,said button securing one end 37 of a coil spring 38', the opposite endof said spring having hooked engagement with a tie 39, the opposite endof the tie being secured to an eye 41% externally carried by the movablejaw 1.

It will be observed upon reference to FIGURE 4, that the tubular pole isso formed at its upper end as to provide for two web members 41 and 42which extend on opposite sides of the sides 9 and Ill and join the fixedjaw. This adds to the stability of the device.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows.

Upon reference to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the pivot pin 24lies on the axis of pole 4 while hinge line 3 for the jaws lies betweenthe pole axis and wall 12. This construction is used as it allows foreasy movement of the movable jaw 1 relative to the fixed jaw when theactuating means therefor is operated and particularly allows for a fullopening between the jaws, as well as a closing thereof. The ball andsocket arrangement between the movable jaw and the link 26 allows changeof radius when the levers 22, 23 are rotated about their pivot pin 24.

When the movable handle 7 is rotated on pin 21 relative to the fixedhandle 6, the link rod 36 is moved downwardly and the spring 33 istensioned. Downward movement of the link rod rotates the pair of levers22 and 23, the end of said levers connecting the link 26 moving upwardlyto move the jaw 1. toward jaw 2, as for instance the position indicatedin FlGURE 2 by dotted lines. The degree of rotation permitted the levers22 and 23 will depend, to a certain extent, upon the length of the linkrod 30 relative to the member .32. This length is adjustable through themedium of the nut 35 carried on the threads 31. It is perhaps obviousthat the hand will engage both the movable handle 7 and the fixed handle6 and that a closing of the hand will move the handle 7 toward the fixedhandle. Such movement is resisted by the coil spring 38 which istensioned when the movable handle swings toward the fixed handle. Thistensioning performs two services; to wit: it stabilizes movement of thelevers 22 and 23 so that there is always a resistance to movement of thejaw 1, and secondly, it stabilizes movement caused by the levers 22 and23 in the movement of the movable jaw through the link 26. In otherwords, there is no free play in the actuating mechanism, to the end thatthe jaws will positively grip the tubular lamp, here indicated as afluorescent tube 4 4. For the purpose of assuring that the link rod doesnot rattle within the casing, I may provide a series of flexible washers45 of sponge rubber or other material, in said tubular pole, whichwasher are carried upon and surround the link rod.

In actual use, the operator, either with one hand or with both handswhere the stabilizing of the tubular pole is necessary, operates themovable handle 7 to swing the movable jaw either to open or closedposition, although normally the movable jaw will always tend to open. Inorder to protect the tubular lamp, the inner 4 surfaces of both jaws maybe coated with a material such as rubber, cork, or the like 43, whichmaterial will likewise function to frictionally engage the periphery ofthe lamp.

1 claim:

A tool for handling elongated fluorescent light tubes, comprising acylindrical hollow pole enlarged at its lower end to form a fixed handlemember and having at its upper end a transverse elongated fixed jawarcuate in cross-section, a movable handle pivoted to the hollow pole inposition to cooperate with the fixed handle member, a transverseelongated movable jaw, arcuate in cross-section, joined to the fixed jawby a hinge having its pivot offset with relation to the axis of thehollow pole, and mechanism located within the hollow pole foroperatively connecting the movable handle member to the movable jaw;said mechanism including a centrally pivoted lever turning about a pinpassing transversely through said axis of the hollow pole and throughopposite sides of 20 the hollow pole proximate to and parallel to theaxis of the hinge joining the jaw members, a relatively long link rod ofreadily adjustable length connecting one end of the centrally pivotedlever with the movable handle memher and a relatively short linkconnecting the opposite 25 end of the centrally pivoted lever to themovable jaw,

whereby when the two handle members are gripped together a fluorescentlight tube may be grasped with a positive grip avoiding free play andthe jaws may, because of the offset location of the continuous hinge,open 30 to a wide extent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

